Are construction workers, just for example, essential? It depends.The standards for what constitutes essential work under COVID-19 pandemic rules vary state to state, city to city and, in some cases, hour to hour. Some orders change because of industry pressure. Some change as the pandemic worsens; and some governors clarify earlier orders when confusion ensues.The result has been a confounding patchwork of rules that have left some workers befuddled and industry organizations scrambling for guidance.